Japan-Palau Alumni Series: Vol.17 Ms. Anna Hideo

Ms. Anna Hideo is one of the successful alumni of the Japanese Government Scholarship by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) to bring Palauan students to further their education in Japan since 1982. She went to study in Japan from October 1988 to March 1991.
 
Ms. Anna went to Japan as a recipient of the MEXT scholarship just a few months after graduating from Bethania High School in 1988. Her interest in Japan started when she was growing up, she often heard people around her use many Japanese words in conversation, sparking a deeper curiosity about the language and culture. This led her to pursue her studies in Japan, where she could immerse herself in both.
 
In Japan, Ms. Anna studied the Japanese language for six months at the Bunka Institute of Language in Tokyo and earned her diploma in secretarial studies from Ehle College of Business (now Ehle Institute Japanese Language School) in Osaka. After returning to Palau, she pursued various roles utilizing her Japanese language skills working as a tour guide, teaching Japanese at Palau Community College, Community Service staff at Palau Visitors Authority, flight attendant for Continental Micronesia (now United), working as front desk clerk for a Japanese golf course company in Guam, and as a staff at the Embassy of Palau in Japan. After about 7 years working in Japan, Ms. Anna returned to Palau in 2014. She has been working at the Embassy of Japan in Palau since 2016.
 
Ms. Anna has visited many interesting places in Japan, including Okinawa, Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Shizuoka, and Fukushima creating many cherished memories. She told us that her “favorite place in Tokyo is Odaiba” where she made friends and which became her “go to place when she felt homesick.” Among her favorite activities were visits to ichigo-gari and mikan-gari, mountain hiking, relaxing at onsens, and skiing. However, her most treasured memories are with Ms. Otome, a Japanese woman who became like a “second mother” to her. Ms. Otome, who lived in Shimizu—an area in Ms. Anna’s home state of Ngchesar in Palau—provided a sense of comfort. She took Ms. Anna to summer festivals, hanami in spring, visit theme parks, enjoy new year traditions together such as enjoying traditional new year cuisine called osechi ryori and visiting temples. Even after Ms. Anna returned to Palau, Ms. Otome would call to catch up and occasionally visit. Another special memory for Ms. Anna is attending her first enka concert. A fan of the genre, she was thrilled to see Ms. Yoshimi Tendo perform live in Tokyo.
 
Ms. Anna believes that her life experience in Japan taught her a lot of valuable life lessons that has helped her in her work and daily life. The Japanese language has helped her form many personal connections as well as the opportunity to experience different jobs. She hopes that more students will want to learn more about the Japanese language as it will bring a lot of good opportunities for work and relationships.
 
As this year is the 30^th anniversary of Japan and Palau diplomatic relations, she wishes that both countries continue to keep their bond of friendship for many years to come.